A thoughtful title for chapter 4 in Of Mice and Men would be, “Story of a Lonely Guy.” The stable buck, Crooks, finally opens up and tells someone how he truly feels about how he hasn't got a single person who really cares about him. For example, he says in chapter 4, “S'pose you didn't have nobody. S'pose you couldn't go into the bunk house and play rummy "cause you was black. How"d you like that? S'pose you had to sit out here an' read books. Sure you could play horseshoes till it got dark, but then you got read books. Books ain't no good. A guy needs somebody, to be near him” (Steinbeck 72). Knowing Lennie is too stupid to tell anyone else or actually understand him, Crooks confides in him just for the sake of having a conversation with another human being. On the other hand, Crooks isn't the only person who feels lonely in this story.
Curley's wife expresses herself to the guys in terms of how much she resents Curley for him forbidding her to talk to other people even when he doesn't talk to her meaningfully half the time. She says, “Think I don't like to talk to somebody ever' once in a while? Think I like to stick in that house alla time” (Steinbeck 77)? Curley's wife's situation is in much the same way as Crook's situation. For their own reasons, they cannot socialize with other people, making them depressed and ill. Consequentially, neither of them will lead normal lives. They will never be happy due to the fact that they are alone and will always be alone.
“Red and Blue and Green Rabbits”
I think a nice title for chapter 1 in Of Mice and Men would be, “Red and Blue and Green Rabbits.” This chapter is about how George and Lennie escape from Weed and have to start their jobs over. The title references to George and Lennie's dream of owning their own land, with their own house, their own crops and livestock, and a vegetable patch filled with multi-colored rabbits, which is the one thing Lennie is most excited about. For instance, Lennie tells George, “Let's have different color rabbits, George.” “Sure we will,” George replies, “Red and blue and green rabbits, Lennie. Millions of "em” (Steinbeck 16). Lennie"s whole image of seeing himself tending the rabbits in their new home is one of the main things that keep him and George going throughout the story. Also, when George reminds Lennie to keep out of trouble, he threatens him by telling him that he will not be allowed to tend the rabbits if he does get into trouble. This order holds on to Lennie in the story, making Lennie more careful and aware of his actions so that he will be allowed to care for the rabbits. Despite this, it may be hard for George to achieve his dream if he expects Lennie to help him get it. Already in chapter 1, George gets mad at Lennie a few times because of Lennie's immature behavior.
As an example, George explodes at Lennie, “God a'mighty, if I was alone I could live so easy. I could go get a job an' work, an' no trouble. No mess at all, and when the end of the month come I could take my fifty bucks and go into town and get whatever I want. An' whatta I got? I got you” (Steinbeck 11)! The relationship between Lennie and George might not be strong enough for George to keep taking care of Lennie like a younger brother. George might give up or just forget his dream. In my opinion, after reading the first chapter, it looks like there is a 50/50 chance between them parting ways or obtaining the land they want successfully.
